Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Padaca cry ‘political retaliation’

Pampanga Governor Ed “Among” Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, both known critics of President Arroyo, Monday expressed belief that their impending removal from office was a result of a “political retaliation” by the Arroyo government aimed at blocking the victory of opposition personalities seeking local posts in next year’s election.

“We received notice that the decision on the election case filed against me by Benjamin Dy will be released tomorrow (December 8) at 2pm (by the Commission on Elections),” Padaca said in her speech entitled: “Sana hindi totoo.”

According to the 46- year-old Isabela governor, she has been receiving information that the Comelec Second Division will release Tuesday its decision on an electoral protest filed by Dy in connection with the results of the May 2007 elections in Isabela when Padaca was initially declared winner in the gubernatorial race.

Panlilio, who ran against former Lubao Mayor Lilia Pineda for the gubernatorial post in Pampanga in the May 2007 polls, also received information that he is next to be unseated by the Comelec after Padaca based on an election protest filed by Mrs. Pineda, a staunch supporter of Mrs. Arroyo.

Both Panlilio and Padaca expressed belief that administration officials have lined up opposition personalities for their removal from position based on pending election-related cases now pending before the Comelec.

In 2004, Padaca – then a political neophyte – won over Dy’s elder brother, then Gov. Faustino Dy Jr., by a 40,000-vote margin.

Calling him as the first victim of “political manipulation,” the Comelec Second Division recently issued a decision declaring former Bulacan governor Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan as the winner in gubernatorial race against Mendoza in the May 2010 based on the result of a recount.

Mendoza, brother of former Bulacan governor Josie de la Cruz, has filed a motion for reconsideration regarding the Comelec decision that ruled that Pagdanganan was the duly elected governor of Bulacan in 2007 polls.